
Whether you like it or not, you will
probably be working from the comfort of your own home for the foreseeable
future. The COVID-19 pandemic forced employers and their employees to figure
out the logistics of remote work and adapt to conducting their operations
remotely on the fly, giving them almost no time to prepare for the transition.
With the initial shock likely having worn off by now for most people, you
probably find yourself settling into something resembling a routine. If you still find yourself working at less than optimum
efficiency, though, here are some tips for staying professionally successful
while you are working from home:
Set a Morning Routine for Yourself and Stick to It
If you want to succeed while you work from home, you should set and try to
stick to a morning routine that gets you ready to tackle the day. Wake up at a
reasonable hour, drink some water, have a cup of coffee or tea, exercise a
little bit, take a shower, eat a hearty breakfast with plenty of protein in it
and get dressed just the same as you would if you were going to work at the
office. If you take the time to prepare for the day instead of just rolling out
of bed and going straight to your desk, you will start off with the frame of
mind and focus you need to remain just as professionally successful as you have
always been.
Take Frequent Breaks, Even If You Do Not Think You Need Them
While you are working from home, you will not have the chance run-ins with your
colleagues in the break room, the impromptu conversations with coworkers who
stop by your workspace or spur-of-the-moment team lunches you are used to
having. You may not have thought much of these unplanned interactions when you
were going to the office every day, but they actually did you some good by
forcing you to take unscheduled breaks from your work at unpredictable
intervals. Even if you do not feel like you need a break, taking a couple minutes
away from your desk would probably do you some good. Go for a walk around your
living space or outside, fold some laundry, do some dishes or read something
that is not related to work. You will go back to your desk feeling refreshed
and ready to dive back into your work.
Do Your Best to Stay in Touch with Your Colleagues
It is important to stay in touch with your colleagues so you can maintain some
sense of camaraderie with them while you are all scattered in different places
rather than sitting a few feet from one another at the office. Use email, your
employer’s instant messaging system, phone calls and video meetings to replace
the in-person conversations you are used to having with them. Consider
scheduling team meetings or video lunches every so often to facilitate more
lighthearted conversations that do not necessarily have to revolve around work.
Do Not Forget to Set Aside Plenty of Time for Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Working from home often blurs the boundaries between work life and non-work life
in ways that can be difficult to manage. There is certainly a temptation to
start working earlier, stop working later and leave your devices on so you can
respond to an urgent phone call, text or email, even outside of regular work
hours. Do not fall prey to this urge. Remember that you need to maintain a
healthy work-life balance and take time for yourself and your loved ones,
especially now.